Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a unique edible large shaggy fungus which looks like a grown lion’s mane. It has been used in East Asia for centuries as food and medicine. Lion’s mane mushrooms frequently grow on dead and decaying trees throughout North America, Europe and Asia. They are harvested in the late summer and fall months.
Health Benefits Of Lions Mane
Lion’s mane helps to strengthen your memory and immune system, stimulates your digestion, and protects against cancer. There are properties of this mushroom that build brain cells according to a recent study from the Queensland Brain Institute.
Lions mane supports cognitive function and neurological health, the properties in these mushrooms protects against dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The active properties in lion’s mane include polysaccharides, erinacines, hericerins, steroids, alkaloids, and lactones. These properties help protect your body from any damage caused by free radicals and inflammation and they promote the growth and regeneration of nerve cells.
Lion’s mane is sometimes called the “smart mushroom,” because they are believed to help support cognitive function, memory and attention span.
Lions Mane Is A Nootropic
What is a nootropic? Compounds that have a protective effect on the brain while supporting its natural cognitive functions are called nootropics. Lion’s mane contains a broad range of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, including erinacines and hericenones, known for their cognitive health benefits. Since erinacines are found in the mycelium, the root like structures and hericenones are limited to the fruiting body, obtaining the benefits of both compounds can only be accomplished by consuming a whole mushroom product that incorporates both parts of the mushroom’s life cycle.
Important For Nerve Health
These very important nootropic compounds found in lion’s mane are small enough to cross the protective blood-brain barrier. These compounds stimulate the creation of NGF (nerve growth factor) and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), chemicals that have potent biological activity. NGF and BDNF help to promote the growth, repair and normal functioning of neurons, the nerve cells that are the building blocks of our brain and nervous system.
NGF is a protein that stimulates the production of new nerve cells and strengthens existing ones. This means that lion’s mane may encourage damaged nerves to grow and repair more quickly.
These factors are necessary for neuroplasticity, the generation of new neural pathways in the brain following injury or illness.
Has The Ability To Protect Against Dementia
Studies have found that lion’s mane mushrooms contain two special compounds that can stimulate the growth of brain cells: hericenones and erinacines.
As we age, our brain’s ability to grow and form new connections declines with age, this can explain why mental functioning worsens in many older adults. The mushroom when taken daily, has the ability to improve memory, focus and clarity. Because of the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties found in lion’s mane, blood flow to the brain is increased, leading to improved cognitive performance and a reduction of brain fog.
In one study, taking lion’s mane extract led to improvements in people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.
Can Lower Depression and Anxiety
The most commonly held theory for depression and anxiety is that it’s caused by a neurotransmitter imbalance, a lack of certain brain chemicals, usually serotonin or dopamine. But one of the more intriguing alternative theories is that depression is the result of chronic brain inflammation.
Brain inflammation has been linked to both depression and anxiety, as well as other brain disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Amycenone is an anti-inflammatory compound found in lion’s mane that may be responsible for its antidepressant properties. Researchers found that taking lion’s mane for four weeks reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in study participants.
Research shows that lion’s mane can be useful in conditions like anxiety and depression, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In this way, anti-inflammatory compounds may work as antidepressants for some people.
If there’s chronic inflammation present in your body, it could be a factor in causing your depression or anxiety. This mushroom works to eliminate inflammation with its anti-inflammatory effects, which in return reduces your symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.
Lion’s mane is also helpful reproducing brain cells responsible for improving the function of the hippocampus in our brains, which helps to create emotional responses. This is another way that it can help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Supports Digestive Health
Lion’s mane has been studied for its potential therapeutic value in a range of digestive disorders. This mushroom has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can improve the health of your stomach and digestive system.
Lion’s mane helps regulate gut bacteria, which is crucial for healthy gut activity. It prevents the growth of the bacteria H. pylori, one of the leading causes of stomach ulcers. It’s believed that the impact on bacteria come from the mushrooms prebiotic effects, helping the beneficial bacteria to flourish.
It also protects the intestines from inflammation and inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Has Anti-Cancer Properties
Inflammation is a leading cause of cancer. Chronic inflammatory responses can lead to cell proliferation and mutation, making conditions ripe for cancer growth. The mushroom is known to fight oxidative stress, a leading cause of inflammation. The mushroom’s ability to fight chronic inflammation lowers the risk of cancer.
This mushroom also works when used as an anti-cancer drug. The mushroom’s polysaccharides, beta-glucans and other bioactive ingredients effectively fight all types of cancers. Studies have shown that lion’s mane mushroom is beneficial in cancers of the breast, digestive tract, stomach, bladder, white blood cells and lungs.
Lion’s mane mushroom is known to eliminate the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, which are often used in various stages of cancer treatment.
Choose a company whose lion’s mane is wild harvested or organically cultivated, carefully extracted, and tested for contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, microbes, and gluten. Always check the ingredient label of a lion’s mane supplement before purchasing it. If it lists any ingredients like “mycelium on grain” or other fillers, it’s best to avoid it. Instead, seek a product that uses both fruiting bodies and mycelium, the root like structure to get the benefits of the entire mushroom.
I chose Ascent Nutrition to buy my lion’s mane powder and several other products. I love this product! I’ve been taking the lion’s mane powder for 1 month and I can definitely feel a change. My memory, mood, focus and mental clarity has improved a lot. This powder also supports my gut and digestive health, encouraging beneficial gut bacteria to flourish. This company has very high standards, I feel confident buying any of their high quality products.
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